Chapter 234 - Her Promise

"There must be a way…"

Homura Ryuu's voice came out as a bit desperate – something that Gin couldn't understand.

"Why do you sound as if you really want Ara to go back there?"

"Because I want Ara to be able to go back," Ryuu answered simply.

The Koutaishidenka then turned away from his friend as if he didn't want the other to see his face – to see the conflicting expression he had on. He walked towards the makeshift office in the tent and sat on the chair.

"What if she did manage to go back there? What will you do if she doesn't want to come back?"

If Ara managed to return to where she originally came from and settled her unfinished business with the other brother there whom she seemed to care about, would she still want to come back to Earth?

"Of course she will," Ryuu said confidently.

A smile suddenly softened his earlier rigid expression as a memory flashed before his eyes. A laughing black-haired vixen had jumped on him from the unicorn she had been riding and squealed as Kresnik caught her and lifted her up.

"You really came," Kresnik said in wonder as he looked at his beloved's happy face.

"Of course. I promised you I will," she said breathily as Kresnik brought her down on her feet

The two of them stared at each other, marveling at each other's presence. The words they spoke earlier sounded so natural, but they both knew that it was not that easy to be together. Why? Because her father had been unhappy when he learned about her involvement with the Flame Emperor.

Perun had forbidden her to go out to meet with him, but she promised she would come and see her lover and she did. As to how she achieved the feat, he had no idea. But he knew it was difficult.

Or not…

"Uncle fell asleep – with my help of course. His harpies are busy fussing over him now so I was able to escape," she said proudly with mischief dancing in her silver-grey eyes.

Kresnik couldn't help but laugh. If the harpies were fussing over his friend, it meant that Stribog fell unconscious in a very strange way. He pitied his friend but also thanked him. Kresnik knew that Stribog knew that his niece was up to no good but went with it and became a victim so they would meet.

"Your father will be mad when he finds out."

"No, he won't," Alencica said assertively. "I can feel that my father's already regretting trying to get in between us. But don't worry. Even if he means it, I will still come to see you. I will always choose to be with you forever and ever…"

The memory faded into a blur, but Ryuu could still hear Alencica's promise ringing in his ear and his heart, warming him all over.

"Ara will always choose to be with me because she promised," he told Gin once more.

The other could only nod in agreement. Kresnik and Alencica were lovers that had been inseparable by time and dimension as proven by the present circumstance. Who was he to say that it was not the case?

"How are we going to check the portal then?"

Ryuu thought for a while. "The Black God can pass through so easily," he said bitingly, remembering the black figure they had seen that night with the chimera and the basilisk.

"Come to think of it, that's correct," Gin agreed, as he too remembered the night of the attack. "Czernobog must know how it works. But how? It appeared thousands of years ago after he was sealed in the depths of hell."

"I'm not sure as well."

This time, Ryuu also appeared problematic. "It's actually why I decided to come here. If the Black God could bring two S class monsters so easily and control them, who knew what else he would bring next time?"

"Are you saying it will take time before you can return to Tokyo?"

Gin looked at Ryuu sympathetically.  The Koutaishidenka had just found his wife and married her, but here he was unable to come home starting on his wedding day. Since he was with Emi now, he felt guilt stabbing his chest as he could easily go back to Tokyo and be with his lover.

"I don't have a choice, do I?" Ryuu asked blandly.

"Well," Gin grimaced, feeling like a useless idiot. "Sorry about that," he apologized.

Among all the people in the Homura House, Gin was the closest to Ryuu in strength. But since he was a cursed being, he couldn't give him a hand this time. The Black God could easily use him and bring more harm to humankind in the event Aello switched sides.

"It's alright. I already made up my mind to kill the Black God without questions asked the next time I see him,"Ryuu announced sulkily, a frown marring his face.

It didn't matter why Czernobog was here. His existence on Earth was not a good thing regardless of the reason. Perun would even be grateful to him if he eliminated the devil, the King of Heaven's mortal enemy and prevent him from bringing more monsters from the other side.

"Well, that's for the best. He has no business coming here in the first place," Gin agreed, before looking thoughtful. "But are you really sure that's Czernobog?"

Ryuu nodded. "I recognize the aura. No one else could emit sinister energy like that except him – or her as he decided to be a woman this time."

Gin nodded again, although he still looked somewhat unconvinced.

"What's wrong?"

Gin sighed as he scratched the back of his head. He totally looked restless that Ryuu couldn't stop frowning at him.  

"I'm not sure. But I have this nagging feeling there's something very important I have to tell you but I can't remember what."

"About Czernobog?"  Ryuu's black brow arched.

It was a preposterous thought of course as none of them had ever expected the presence of the Black God in the mortal plane. How come Gin would know something about Czernobog so suddenly?

"Yes – no – I don't know," Kazehaya Gin muttered as he scratched his head again. "I don't make sense now, do I?"